Searchable archives of the biweekly WatchDog TipSheet's story ideas, articles, updates, events and other information with a focus on freedom-of-information issues of concern to environmental journalists in both the U.S. and Canada are posted here on the day of publication. Journalists are eligible for a free email subscription; send name and full contact information to the SEJ office. WatchDog TipSheet is also available via RSS feed. 
Latest WatchDog TipSheet Items
September 9, 2009
Did EPA Hide Atrazine Risks?
September 9, 2009–The Huffington Post Investigative Fund uncovers EPA's failure to warn people in at least four states about unsafe levels of the weedkiller atrazine in their wellwater.EPA Releases All Responses to Coal Ash Survey
September 9, 2009–The data, from hundreds of facilities in 35 states, provide reporters the raw material for hundreds of local stories.Government Clinical Trials Database Is Missing Data
September 9, 2009–The Sunlight Foundation's Real Time Investigations blog explains the problems with a registry containing information on more than 78,000 clinical trials.Law Allows Astroturf Roots Cover-Up
September 9, 2009–Current law has no disclosure requirements for fake grass-roots lobbying — such as that of a coal industry campaign to stop climate legislation which sent forged letters to members of Congress, pretending to be from minority and community organizations.August 26, 2009
CDC Launches National Public Health Tracking Program
August 26, 2009–This data tool shows promise, but it currently tracks only non-infectious conditions and not others tied to environmental causes, such as neurological, endocrine, and reproductive disorders.Data Deficit Hampers Consumer Product Safety Commission
August 26, 2009–A new GAO report says Customs has refused to give the CPSC shipping-manifest information it has been requesting for years. The manifests are a way to track products imported into the U.S. which may have been recalled due to toxicity and/or safety issues.EPA Releases Raw TRI Data Early
August 26, 2009–The rawness of the data, which will be analyzed and revised by EPA at a later date, means that, for now, reporters will need to do more of their own ground-truthing in order to use it.Info on Rare Orchid Handled Like Nuclear Secret
August 26, 2009–The Canby's bog orchid, not seen in Maryland for 20 years, has reappeared at the Nassawango Nature Preserve. A Washington Post reporter was allowed to see and write about it, but with unusual restrictions.Judge Orders USDA To Release Data on Wolf Program
August 26, 2009–The locations of conflicts in New Mexico and Arizona between livestock and Mexican gray wolves, which were reintroduced in 1998, will now be made public in hopes of identifying problem areas and taking preventive steps.July 29, 2009
Declassified Ice Photos Document Climate Change
July 29, 2009–The Obama administration releases high-resolution photos, taken by US spy satellites over the years, documenting the extent and quality of arctic sea ice.
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